The Brain By Rabbi Dr. Hillel ben David (Greg Killian)

hemispheres. We will be looking at the Eastern Introduction (Orient) and Western (Occident) hemispheres as they relate to the brain’s right and left sides. We In this paper I would like to study the human brain will also look at the Torah as it relates to the brain, and explore what Jewish wisdom has to say about the Eastern hemisphere, the Western hemisphere, the connections between the human brain, the and Israel. people of the Occident and the Orient, and the geography of the world. The Occident refers to the Western world (Europe and America) and the Orient refers to the Eastern This will be a mystical study because of the nature world (Asia). The land of Israel lies directly of the material that delves into how the physical between the Occident and the Orient. Indeed, the the luchot Occident is west because it is west of Israel and 1,(ספפיירות) human brain, the Sefirot (tablets of the testimony given to Moses), the the Orient is in the East because it is East of Torah lectionary, geography, and the nature of the Israel. Occidental and the Oriental minds, are related to Torah and to each other. It is interesting to know the origins of these words in English. Orient points (Orientation) to the Man is a metaphor for creation and HaShem. direction of the rising of the sun and Occident Indeed, one of several meanings of the Hebrew points to the direction of the setting of the sun. word adam (“man”) is “I resemble”. For man is a The root meaning of Occident is to fall,5 i.e., microcosm of creation, in the words of the where the sun falls. That the word Occident Talmud, “As the soul fills the body, so HaShem means, to fall, from a cosmological perspective is fills the universe”.2 Thus Iyov (Job) declares, revealing, because it is in the left hemisphere, the “From my flesh, I perceive HaShem”,3 by side of the sefirot of Gevurah, where the greatest contemplating the workings of our body and the aspect of the fall of Adam6 occurred. manner in which it relates to, and is animated by our soul, we gain insight into the workings of A careful reading of the Torah will show that creation and the manner in which it relates to and when one goes to the East, they are going away is sustained by its source. Man is a microcosm, from HaShem. Conversely, when one goes and so provides analogies for all other worlds towards the west, then they are going towards which can explain the secrets of reality and the HaShem. We will see this manifested in the great riddles hidden from our senses”.4 religions of the Orient and the religions of the Occident. It is instructive to note that, in English, the major parts of the brain are called hemispheres and the The Orient is divorced from the Occident in terms major geographical parts of the world are called of it’s destiny. The Occident was designed to battle the Jews. The Orient is a world of spiritual 1 Sephirot or Sephiroth A Hebrew word meaning “enumerations”, are the ten attributes and emanations in 5 Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin occident-, Kabbalah, through which HaShem reveals himself occidens, from present participle of occidere to fall, set (of 2 Berachot 30a the sun) 3 Iyov 19:26 6 Bereshit (Genesis) chapter three describes Adam’s sin in 4 Shomer Emunim HaKadmon, argument 1, sec. 27 detail. 1 potential that is much higher than the Occidental global and spiritual mid-brain. Lying between the world. The consciousness in the Orient is that of Orient and the Occident lies the mystery of Jewish spirituality. It was built by Avraham when he sent existence and it is no accident. Ketura and her children to the east with fragments of spirituality that they were to develop. The A Question Orientals are not limited, tangible, and impirical like the Occident. The Occident is very limited in I have a few questions: Why has virtually the spirituality. The Orient is a wisdom based much entire history of the Jewish people been in the more on kabbalistic sources. Western world?

Our Hakhamim teach that, in general, all right Jews have been exiled, dispersed, migrated and sides are associated with the expansive, masculine, settled within literally every country in the world, and unifying aspects of the attribute of Chesed and that is, in the Western world, why? all left sides are associated with the contracting, feminine, and polarizing aspects of the attribute of Jewish presence in the Eastern hemisphere of the Gevurah. Although these two forces are equivalent world, aside from a few anomalies and in quality and necessity, they are not equivalent in speculations, has been non-existent, why? manifestation or in their vulnerability to become imbalanced. As is known, Gevurah is potentially Why has anti-Semitism been virtually a Western more powerful than Chesed but paradoxically it is world phenomenon? more volatile. Putting it simply, if something goes wrong in the scheme of things the first to get hit, I would like to explore some answers to these and the hardest to fall, is the attribute of Gevurah, questions, as we study. the “left side”, the Occidental side, of creation. This study will rely on a very special pasuk8 in the When Adam ate from the Tree of the Knowledge Torah: of Good and Evil, he generated a chain reaction that primarily caused the “left” side of his world Bereshit (Genesis) 25:5-6 And Abraham to collapse. He now has to repair the damage of gave all that he had unto Isaac. 6 But unto his sin. This meant that he was required to descend the sons of the concubines, which Abraham “downward” and to the “left” of creation in order had, Abraham gave gifts, and sent them to do the tikkun, the correction. This is the away from Isaac his son, while he yet lived, meaning of the verse, “For on the day that you eat Eastward, unto the East country. of it you will surely die [be forced to descend]”. Adam’s mission now was to descend Abraham fathered children through his concubine into the lower realms of the “left side” of creation Keturah and send them Eastward with gifts. There to repair the damage. Where that “left side” of are remnants of this existing in the world today. creation is located in the Occident, the “left side”, vis-à-vis Israel. Abraham in India

In general, Eastern religions such as Hinduism, The Torah states that Ishmael, son of Hagar, and Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, Taoism, Shintoism, his descendants lived in India. “…Ishmael Confucianism, etc. are based on a unified view of breathed his last and died, and was gathered to his reality. In general Christianity (and all of its kin… They dwelt from Havilah (India), by Shur, variations) and Islam are based on a dualistic7 which is close to Egypt, all the way to Asshur”.9 view of reality. The Torah, Jews, and the Land of Israel are right in the middle functioning as the 7 Dualism (from the Latin word duo meaning "two") 8 A pasuk is a verse. denotes a state of two parts. 9 Bereshit (Genesis) 25:17-18 2 Rabbi Menashe Ben Israel wrote:10 “…he the Jews, and the Arabians are descendants of (Abraham) sent the sons of his concubines away Abraham.15 We are told that Terah, the father of from Isaac while he was yet alive towards the East Abraham, originally came from an Eastern to the holy land, India. Behold, you may see there country called Ur, of the Chaldees, to dwell in a the Abrahamites, who are today called Brahmans; district called Mesopotamia. Sometime after he they are the sons of Abraham our Patriarch and had dwelt there, Abraham, or Abram, or Brahma, they were the first in India to spread this faith…” and his wife Sara or Sarai, or Saraswati,16 left their father’s family and came into Canaan. The identity Ancient Jewish wisdom informs us that of Abraham and Sara with Brahma and Saraswati Abraham’s concubine’s children went to India was first pointed out by the Jesuit missionaries”.17 with all Abraham had taught them, and established Hinduism, To this very day their descendants, the The Gifts priestly caste in Hinduism, are still called Brahmins, or descendants of “Abraham”.11 There is a tradition that teaches that the gifts Abraham gave (Genesis 25:5-6), were actually The Brahmin12 elite descend from the sons of mystical techniques. What this means is that there Abraham’s concubines, whom Abraham sent to was a meditative element which was given over to the East. He gave them gifts: a spiritual path, and the East which preceded even the historical powers which are right for them,13 and which formation of the family of Israel. It is most prepare them to grow, develop and be ready to significant that the Western world is, for the most absorb and receive the light of holiness. This light part, the arena in which the Jewish people were will soon become the world’s lot when we, the scattered during the exile. The thought processes children of Isaac and Jacob, will merit to enlighten prevalent in the Western world are essentially left- every corner. This will be achieved with the brain, linear, individualistic, and thus point to the coming of Mashiach. fact that the Jewish people in exile were rectifying the Tree of The Knowledge of Good and Evil, Hodu (the Hebrew word for India) means “Give which was damaged most on the left side. thanks”, which is, indeed, a very Jewish concept. The entire difference between an Indian (Hodi) The Zohar gives us some insight into this idea: and a Jew (Yehudi) is just the letter, yud at the beginning. An Indian is close to a Jew. Sometimes Soncino Zohar, Bereshit, Section 1, Page a Jew has the yud [the essential point of 99b R. Abba continued: ‘I once found myself connection] but is missing the hodi in a town inhabited by descendants of the (acknowledgement), and he or she needs to go to “children of the East”, and they imparted to India to find it.14 me some of the Wisdom of antiquity with which they were acquainted. They also Abraham in Persia possessed some books of their Wisdom, and

“ The Persians also claim Ibrahim, i.e. Abraham, 15 Anacalypsis; Vol. I; p.85 for their founder, as well as the Jews. Thus we see 16 In Hinduism, Saraswati (Sanskrit: सरसस्वतत,Sarasvatī), is that according to all ancient history the Persians, the goddess of knowledge, music, arts and science. She is the consort of Brahma, also revered as his Shakti. Her figure is also popular in the Jain religion of west and central India. 10 From Hinduism Back to Judaism by Rabbi Matityahu In Konkani she is Saraswati, Sharada, Veenapani, Pustaka Glazerson. dharini, Vidyadayini. In Kannada, she is Sharade, 11 Rabbi Daniel Lapin Sharadamba, Vani, Veenapani in the famous Shringeri 12 Brahmin is named after Abraham. temple. In Tamil, she is also known as kalaimagal, 13 They are right for them, yet not right for Israel, which has Kalaivaani, Vaani. She is also addressed as sharadha, Veena its own path. pustaka dharani, vaakdevi, varadhanayagi and many other 14 Hod, the eighth sefira counting from Chochma, signifies names. gratitude, acknowledgment and receptivity. 17 Anacalypsis;Vol. I; p. 387 3 they showed me one in which it was written Jewish mystical texts would also have been that, according to the goal which a man sets written or conceived at that time. himself in this world, so does he draw to himself a spirit from on high. If he strives to While some commentaries indicate that “The land attain some holy and lofty object, he draws to the East” might be Arab areas just to the East of that object from on high to himself below. the land of Israel,22 most understand this to be But if his desire is to cleave to the other referring to the far East. side, and he makes this his whole intent, then he draws to himself from above the The Oral Torah presents a consistent connection other influence. They said, further, that all between Jewish teachings and Eastern mysticism, depends on the kind of speech, action, and brought East by the children of Keturah. intention to which a man habituates himself, for he draws to himself here below from on Soncino Zohar, Bereshit, Section 1, Page high that side to which he habitually 100b For the ancient children of the East cleaves. were possessed of a wisdom which they inherited from Abraham, who transmitted it Our Patriarch, Abraham , was called out of a to the sons of the concubines, as it is land18 filled with the worship of other gods. written, “But unto the sons of the Obeying a directive from HaShem, he journeyed concubines that Abraham had, Abraham with his family to a land he did not know. He was gave gifts, and he sent them away from promised that he would be a father of many Isaac his son, while he yet lived, Eastward, nations.19 This promise was not just a physical unto the country of the children of the East” one, but a spiritual one, as well. It is well known (Gen. XXV, 6). In course of time they that Christianity and Islam have their beginnings followed the track of that wisdom into many in Judaism, and are thus “Abrahamic faiths.” The (wrong) directions. religions of the East, too, can be traced to Abraham. The oldest religion of the East is Soncino Zohar, Bereshit, Section 1, Page Hinduism, from which the others, such as 223a R. Isaac said: ‘It is written: “And Buddhism, sprang. Abraham sent the sons of Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of Keturah, his second wife, East with gifts.20 all the children of the East” (I Kings v, 9). What is the wisdom of the children of the The Midrash21 further tells us that Shem and his East? Tradition tells us that it was the great-grandson, Eber, established a yeshiva, a wisdom which they inherited from school, in which they taught the only Torah of the Abraham . For we read that Abraham “gave time, the Seven Noachide Laws. Understanding all that he had unto Isaac” (Gen. xxv, 5): this, we can see the thread woven through this refers to the higher wisdom, which he religions of the West and East. This code, and all possessed through the knowledge of the holy associated with it, is the “knowledge of the ancient name of God. “But to the sons of the ones.” concubines which Abraham had Abraham gave gifts”; to wit, certain information Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan’s English commentary on about the lower crowns, and he settled them Sefer Yetzirah notes that Abraham lived in the in “the East country” (Ibid.); and from that 18th century BCE, the same time period in which source the children of the East inherited mystical books, such as the Vedic Scriptures, were wisdom.’ written in the far East, making it logical that 18 Ur Chasdim 19 Bereshit (Genesis) 17:4 20 Bereshit (Genesis) 25:6 21 Midrash Rabbah - Genesis LXIII:10 22 Daat Zekeinim on Gen 25:6 4 As great as their wisdom was, it does not hold a The sefirot are divided in to groups of three: The candle to the Wisdom that the Torah brings, as we right side, the left side, and the center mediating see in King Solomon: between the two.

1 Melachim (Kings) 4:29-34 And God gave The following table shows the three parts of the Solomon wisdom and understanding sefirot, the hemispheres of the earth, and the brain exceeding much, and largeness of heart, that we will be looking at in this study. even as the sand that is on the sea shore. 30 חהכפמהה Chakmah ביינהה And Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom Bina of all the children of the East country, and Left Brain Right Brain all the wisdom of Egypt. 31 For he was The West The East wiser than all men; than Ethan the Ezrahite, The Nisan The Tishri and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, the Torah cycle Torah cycle דתעתת sons of Mahol: and his fame was in all Daat nations round about. 32 And he spake three Mid-brain thousand proverbs: and his Israel songs were a thousand and The Oral five. 33 And he spake of trees, Torah from the cedar tree that is in Lebanon even unto the hyssop that springeth out of the wall: he spake also of beasts, and of fowl, and of creeping things, and of fishes. 34 And there came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, which had heard of his wisdom. The mystics understand that the brain is divided into three divisions: The left hemisphere, the right Thus we see that HaShem has a plan for the hemisphere, and the mid-brain. The sefirot are children of the East. He has prepared them ahead divided into divisions of three: Chachmah, Binah, of time for a cosmic appointment. A time when and Daat. the end becomes enwedged in the beginning.23 The world is also divided into three parts: The In The Sefirot24 Eastern hemisphere, the Western hemisphere, and the Middle East, with Jerusalem, Israel at the very The Sefirot are the spiritual framework for the center. It is only with respect to Israel that the human body. The Sefirot are often described ‘orient’ is in the east and the ‘occident is in the visually in the form of a human body or that of the west. That is why it is called the Middle East. Tree of Life.

The Sefirot are also reflected in man’s spiritual make-up, with each faculty in man derived from the sefirot.

23 Sefer Yitzirah 1:8 24 The concepts in this section come from: Meditation and Kabbalah, By Aryeh Kaplan, page 256. 5 It is also worth noting that the land of Israel is also Chakmah is extremely creative as it contains laid out like a human being. The brain is in everything in potential. None of the potential has Shechem, the heart is in Jerusalem, and the womb been actualized so there are no limitations. is in Hebron. This subject is covered in greater detail in the study titled: CITY. Chachmah is the beginning of that ecstatic moment in the act of marriage. It is the beginning Finally, we find that the of the ecstatic moment when we rest from our own luchot25 and the Torah toil and HaShem gives us the answer to a problem lectionary are also composed that we have been grappling with. of three related parts. We will explore these parts in greater Chachmah is situated at the top of the right detail as we progress with this column, and corresponds to the right hemisphere study. of the brain, and to the Oriental mind. Chakmah is also related to the Tishri cycle of the triennial Chachmah Torah reading cycle.

.wisdom) is when one Chachmah is koach mah, the power of what) חכמה - Chachmah considers everything carefully and separating Chachmah is called the question while Binah is himself from that which is not proper. Chachmah called the answer. is the original flash of insight. It involves the thrill of a new idea. When you feel “struck” by some If we carefully study the attributes of Chakmah we new insight or new concept, you are in your will surely get some significant insights into the Chachmah mode. Chachmah is that concise, oriental mind. nutshell of an idea that you just conceived. But you’ve only conceived it, you haven’t yet Binah developed it, or even really understood it. This understanding) is the aspect of the) בינה – general perception contains the splendor of Binah sublime ideals at their highest level, before the thinking process in which we understand by detailed characteristics of reality have become comparison and analyses. Immediately after we known. have the beginning of an ecstatic moment26 of Chakmah; HaShem sends us the Binah, the Chachmah is the thought process we experience understanding of that ecstatic moment. At this when we are looking for a concise, all- point we are only vaguely aware that we are encompassing, abstract solution to a particular getting an idea from HaShem. problem. This sefirah has all of the pieces put together and working to provide the whole picture Binah is the faculty we use when we focus on the of an idea. It has all of the collective pieces much details, when we process and analyze particular as any collective group finds itself sufficient for nuances of a situation, when we use non-verbal any task. It has none of individual part or aspects cues and tones of voice as signals for evaluating because they are undifferentiated at this point. emotional responses, when we break down an idea This collective sufficiency is the model for the into words and sentences in order to communicate Eastern mindset. it to another.

Within Chakmah is the seed that in and of itself Within Binah the embryonic archetypes of contains everything with all the parts in an Chakmah become more distinct and differentiated undifferentiated state much as the male seed into specific phenomena. This sefirah is often contains everything in a tiny speck. In this state, 26 The ecstatic moment in wisdom is like the ecstatic moment in sex. In both experiences one realizes that he is 25 The tablets of the testimony. ‘there’. 6 associated with the female because it is the woman actions that will become manifest based on this who causes the seed to become differentiated into concretized reality. arms, legs, head, and body. In this state, potential is becoming actualized, therefore the creativity is Daat is the third faculty of the intellect. It is the diminished. Thus the Occidental has the ability to ability to integrate and harmonize diametrically bring the potential into actuality. The potential is opposed views or states of being. In Kabbalah, now limited, but it is becoming real! knowledge is seen as the synthesis of right and left brain activities. This sefirah mediates between the Binah (understanding) is situated at the top of the left and the right sides and brings to synthesis the left column, and corresponds to the left minds of the East and the West. hemisphere of the brain, and the Occidental mind, which thrives on its close examination of the The land of Israel represents Daat because it is in details. the center, between the Eastern and Western hemispheres. It is what connects East and West. The Eastern mindset mimics the right side of the brain, and the Western mindset mimics the left If we carefully study the attributes of Daat we will side of the brain. surely get some significant insights into the Jewish mind, which synthesizes the Eastern and the If we carefully study the attributes of Binah we Western mind. The Jew is the synthesis of will surely get some significant insights into the Chakmah and Binah by being Daat. This will help occidental mind. us to understand why Jews have always made significant contribution to the world in terms of Daat inventions, Nobel prizes, and significant contributions to every aspect of action in the .knowledge or connection) is the part world) דעת - Daat of the intellect which connects one’s abstract thought to the reality of emotions and action. In Geography When we become aware that we have had an ecstatic moment and we ‘know’ that we have the Israel exists at the nexus between East and West, correct answer with all of the pieces. between left brain and right brain, thus paralleling daat. Both geographically, and as far as ways of Daat is the aspect of the thorough bonding, thinking are concerned, Israel is in the mediating connection and attachment of the feeling of the position. As we pointed out, most of Israel’s mind to the concept. That is, the power of history involved dealing with the western world attention or concentration. And this is what brings (as opposed to the far East), especially during the about the aspect of deep comprehension of the exile. But now, when Israel is being rejuvenated in 27(תיקון ולם) concept after the learning so that it is just like an its homeland, the focus of tikkun olam aspect of a vessel to the depth of the understood has shifted. This is the essential reason why so concept. That is, Daat is a vessel for binah, many Jews are looking to the East. The deeper attention and concentration is a vessel for process which this heralds is the return of lost understanding. sparks to the soul of Israel. Both right and left brain paradigms must be joined together to form a Daat is the offspring of the male and female. Daat totality greater than each element. This totality is takes the Chakmah and the Binah and builds it Daat in its rectified state. into a child who lives and acts according to the seed that produced him. It is in Daat that Israel The Oriental and the Occidental people both rest demonstrates the ability to bring Chakmah and on the earth which is encased in a membrane of Binah into concrete reality, in all its differentiated greatness. The only potential is in the myriads of 27 Hebrew phrase that means “repairing the world”. 7 water above and a membrane of water below, just The following table details some of the differences like the brain! between Orientals and accidentals:

The Occident And The Orient Occidental Oriental Reads from left to right. Reads from right to left. Most folks have noticed that folks from the East, Will not harbor a Would be shamed if he the Orient, and folks from the West, the Occident, criminal relative. It did not harbor a are very different in the ways that they think and would be dishonorable. criminal relative. act. In this paper we are beginning to understand Occidental martial arts Oriental martial arts are that HaShem has purposely set the Eastern and lack religious belief permeated with a Western minds to relate to the right and the left system. religious belief system. brain as well as luchot in the ark. Tends to act in his own Tends to act in the self-interest even if it group’s interest even if The Western, or Occidental mindset is associated harms a group. it harms his own self- with the contracting, feminine, polarizing portion interest. which corresponds to the Sefirah of Gevurah. The Are prone to anti- Respect the Jewish thought processes prevalent in the Western world Semitism. people and their are essentially left-brain, individualistic, and thus success. point to the fact that the Jewish people in exile Categorization by rules Categorization by rules were rectifying the tree of the knowledge of good comes easily. comes with difficulty. and evil, which was damaged most on the left Look for categories in Look for relationships side. the organization of in the organization of objects. objects. The Eastern, or Oriental mindset is associated Young learn nouns first. Young learn verbs first. with the expansive, masculine, unifying portion 28 Excel at geometry Excel at math and which corresponds to the Sefirah of Chesed. The algebra but not thought processes prevalent in the Eastern world geometry. are essentially right-brain, holistic in focus, and Regards objects in Regards objects in collective in their deeds. This perspective is isolation. context. illustrated by a Chinese proverb which states that, 29 Language intonations Language intonations “the peg that stands out is pounded down”. convey mood. convey differences in word meaning. While Western religions, Christianity and Islam Uses logic/reason Uses intuition/emotions each have a close and sometimes troubled Thinks in words Thinks in pictures relationship with Judaism, the Chinese, who as a Deals in parts/specifics Deals in nation have no particular relationship with the wholes/relationships Torah, also have no need to delegitimize any aspect of the Jewish past. Will analyze/break Will synthesize/put apart together In Chinese, the term Jew has no negative Thinks sequentially Thinks holistically connotation of the sort one finds in various Is time bound Is time free monotheistic languages. Anti-Semitism is virtually Is extroverted Is introverted unknown in the East. Is characterized as male Is characterized as female Identifies with the Identifies with the 28 Normally translated as ‘kindness’, but it carries the individual group meaning of ‘unlimited giving’. Is ordered/controlled Is spontaneous/free 29 Nisbett, R. E. (2003). The geography of thought: How Dualistic view of reality Unified view of reality Asians and Westerners think differently. . . and why. Pg 48. New York: The Free Press. 8 In Medicine than it is Western! In the center, between the Orient and the Occident are the Jewish people. Oriental medicine focuses on prevention and The Jewish people mediate between East and balance, while Occidental medicine focuses on West, between right and left. cure and intervention. The Orient correspond to the right hemisphere of Eastern medicine is right-brained Oriented, while the brain and the right sefirah of Chachmah. Western medicine is left-brained Oriented. The following table lists the differences between The Occident correspond to the left hemisphere of Eastern and Western medicine: the brain and the left sefirah of Binah.

Eastern Medicine Western Medicine Jerusalem, or Israel, corresponds to the midbrain telescopic, microscopic, and the center sefirah of daat which mediates macrobiologic microbiologic between the two sides. When we view the philosophical, hemispheres from Israel, we see that the Western scientific, technologic metaphysical hemisphere is on the left side and the Eastern hemisphere is on the right side. functional anatomical health-Oriented disease-Oriented In Music concentric, holistic individual, analytical subjective, qualitative objective, quantitative Kabbala Soul Music tailor-made ready-made By Rabbi DovBer Pinson Elimination of the Self-strengthening causes Generally, it is maintained that there are two distinct styles of music. Let us term these, for convenience's sake, as "Western music", music The Orient and the Occident also correspond to which originates from Western society, and "Non- the left and right hemispheres of the brain. Western", music which is derived from all other cultures, particularly those of the East and Africa. Since Jerusalem is the center of the world, it Western music is usually recognizable as "goal makes sense that the Orient are the lands East of oriented music". This means to say, music that is Jerusalem and the Occident are the lands West of narrative in structure, consisting of a series of Jerusalem. For this reason, Jerusalem or Israel progressive "events", so to speak. The listener represents the mid-brain. feels the progression of the music, and it evokes a sense of movement within him. It feels like the In general, Eastern religions, Hinduism, music has a destination, and it takes the listener on Buddhism, etc. are based on a unified view of its journey. reality. In general Christianity (and all of its variations) and Islam are based on a dualistic view Non-Western music is characterized by a of reality. The Torah, Jews, and the land of Israel prolongation of a single note, or a select group of are right in the middle functioning as the global sounds which continues in a set pattern throughout and spiritual mid-brain. Judeo-Christianity is a the entire melody. This type of music arouses a Christian theological term created in order to more contemplative state, evoking within the “graft the branch back into the root”. Such a listener a sense of timelessness and inner space. conception of “Old Testament” Judaism is certainly Western duality, but authentic Torah Appropriately, these moods of music reflect the Judaism it is not. In fact, when the Hellenization, essential theology of these two civilizations. In the Christianization, and Westernization of Torah are West, the predominant belief is that Creation stripped away, esoteric Judaism is more Eastern began at a period of time, as time is linear, 9 culminating in a future: Creation, Revelation and Cultural Differences finally Redemption. Reflecting this reality, the music the West produces follows this pattern. It My son30 and I have interviewed folks from the begins, reaches a high point and climaxes. By orient. We have spoken to folks from India, China, contrast, in the East, where time is viewed to be Japan, Cambodia, and Korea. These Oriental folks cyclical, with no "beginning", "middle" or "end", had several common cultural traits which are its music, too, is cyclical and repetitive. generally not found in the Occident.

The Kabbala and Jewish mystical teachings, on Living Arrangements some level, meld these two together. Yes, Creation began at some point in time, and time itself was My son learned, in an interview, that a Japanese created; nonetheless, Creation is continuous, student in his college slept in her parent’s moment to moment anew. Nothing is merely in bedroom until she was twelve years old. Since the past, nor hoped for purely the future. learning this, we have asked this question to other Everything is within the eternal present. As such, Orientals. We received similar answers from the the music that the Jewish mystics produced, Chinese, Cambodian, and Indians (folks from especially the songs of Chassidim known as India). In western countries this is unusual. Most "nigunim", are reflective of both these musical Occidental kids spend only their infancy in their spectrums. parent’s bedroom, assuming they have the room to spare.31 There are some nigunim that are structured and progressive. These tunes are to the Western ear Co-sleeping may be what engenders the collective "sophisticated" tunes, consisting of a beginning, a mindset. Co-sleeping children often form stronger body and a climax. There are other nigunim that family bonds that last into adulthood. In Japan, the contain repetitions of single, individual sounds infant is seen more as a separate biological with little or no words. And some contain both. organism who from the beginning, in order to develop, needs to be drawn into increasingly While Neitzsche suggested that the "fire magic of interdependent relations with others. In America, music" is to be found in its anti-rationality, and the infant is seen more as a dependent biological what he sought in music was its "ecstatic organism who, in order to develop, needs to be irrationality", the Jewish mystic looks to unveil made increasingly independent of others. Both within music its transcendence. Perhaps not the cultures acknowledge that isolating a child at night transcendence within the music itself, as some is stressful but interpret the experience differently. would argue that music is nothing more than "sonorous air" or, as Leibniz had it, "unconscious My son learned, in an interview, that a Japanese arithmetic"; rather the reaction to the music, the student in his college took showers with her transcendence reached as one reacts to the music. parents until she was twelve years old. Since A wordless tune (as is much of Jewish mystical learning this, we have put this question to other song, particularly Chassidic) is the way two Orientals. We received a similar answer from the individuals can communicate on a transcendent Chinese. In western countries this is unusual. Most soul level. Any breakdown in the verbal kids never shower with their parents, except in communication mode can be repaired by creating exceptional or in beginning situations. a conduit that transcends words. When a person feels alienated from his Source, or for that manner, from his fellow man, a wordless tune which exists on a realm that defies distinctions, separations, 30 Micah Jonah Killian and disharmony, is the most fitting remedy, 31 Similar studies by others have yielded similar results. See a study by cultural psychologist Richard Shweder. Also: causing a unity of souls. “Caudill and Plath’s (1966) well-known study of Japanese sleeping locations. 10 In Education Occidental and the Oriental minds. The Torah portrays both individualistic and collective In the Orient, it is believed that skills in math, for approaches, each at their proper time. Jews are example, are not a talent but instead something often flaming individualists who see themselves as that anyone can work hard to attain. As a result, an integral part of a community and of a people. students work hard and there is more support for teachers. In contrast, Americans are much more Occidental infants learn nouns more rapidly than likely to assume that a talent for math is verbs, whereas it is the other way around in the something a student either has or lacks. Orient. This tendency can be explained in light to the collective orientation of the Oriental brain. The New York time wrote an article about a Verbs tend to connect actions with results, “Tiger Mom”.32 This article describes the extremes implying a relationship, where nouns tend to stand that a Chinese mother used to cajole her son into alone and emphasize the individual objects. acquiring a straight ‘A’ report card. My son and I have subsequently interviewed other Orientals and Communal Orientation have found this to generally be true for the Japanese, Indians, Cambodians, and the Chinese. Most Orientals have a strong attachment to their They all noted an intense parental desire for their family, community, and jobs. These attachments children to get ‘A’s on their report cards and tests. are almost always reciprocal. While most It is rare for Occidental parents to push their occidentals place a high value on family children beyond what the children are capable. A relationships, they are often less community ‘C’ student who does his best is not pushed to oriented and generally have only a weak achieve beyond his capabilities. Good grades seem connection to their jobs. It is extremely rare for an to be a collective mechanism for insuring the Occidental company to feel a reciprocal success of the community and family, which is relationship with their employees. Western also a tendency of Orientals in contrast to communities rarely invest in their citizens. Occidentals. Orientals see everything as interrelated whereas Occidentals are more likely to think within the Nesbitt33 contrasts American and Chinese scope of individual people or objects. This children’s books. The famous lines “See Dick qualities may be a result of the inherent run...” are much different than those in the pragmatism employed by Orientals. equivalent Chinese primer which doesn’t describe actions by an individual but instead describes When Occidentals and Oriental individuals are information about relationships between people; asked to describe themselves. Occidentals “Big brother takes care of little brother...” Later in described their personality traits and activities (“I the book, the author describes the way children in am friendly, I am a teacher”) to explain their Asia, Europe and America are raised by their individuality. Oriental instead described parents but also the ways that they create themselves based on context and on relationships relationships between things. For example, when (“I am serious at work, I am Joan’s friend”). given a series of images to pair together, an Oriental child is more likely to group a cow with (As an aside, I am coming to understand that a grass because a cow eats grass. An American child significant issue with the assimilation of the would be more likely to pair the cow with a African American community into the economic chicken because they fit into the same prosperity of America, primarily centers on the “taxonomic” category. Interestingly, the Torah of aspect of communal attachment rather than race. the Jews portrays a synthesis between the Their communal desires cause behaviors that advance them in their community at the expense 32 http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/20/books/20book.html 33 The Geography of Thought: Asian and Western Minds at of their advancement as individuals or personal Work, Richard E. Nisbett benefit.) 11 Pragmatism

Pragmatism seems to be one of the core values in the Oriental problem-solving style. This perspective works very efficiently. However, it keeps them from forward thinking and creative problem-solving. It takes getting outside the box of pragmatism to see a problem in new light and According to the Economist Intelligence Unit, perhaps even discover the real problem behind the 35 symptoms and then find the creative solutions. published in 2011, the democracy index map, uses colors to depict those countries which are democratic or dictatorships. The closer to dark Application of Law green, the higher the degree of democracy; the In his discussion of law, Nisbett34 noted that, in an closer to dark red, the higher the degree of Oriental context, it is not a contest between dictatorship. opponents where one party wins and the other loses based on the evidence, as in the Occident. This map shows that democracy is primarily an Instead, the goal of Asian law is to assist in Occidental value and that the Oriental model tends reducing animosity and using evidence to seek a towards dictatorships. “Middle Way” to solve the issue at hand, regardless of whether it is just or not. Justice is not This concords well with the notion that those a goal of Oriental law. Whether or not this nations which follow HaShem according to the solution sounds logical or not, is moot; the Torah tend towards a model of freedom. Those acceptance of this idea is demonstrative of the that have a religion which is not based on the circular relationship characteristic of Oriental Torah tend towrds dictatorship. thought in contrast to a linear pattern of Western perception. Pangaea

It is interesting to note that the Torah law, of the Jews, seeks not only justice, but also the appearance of justice. This appearance of justice is also a key to maintaining good relationships. Thus we note that Israel is the only place where Occidental and Oriental justice converge.

Democracy vs. Dictatorships

The following graphic depicts the distribution of dictatorships in the world.

The continental drift theory suggests that the supercontinent, Pangaea, was the name of the great land mass prior to the drift. A cursory look suggests a strong resemblance to the human brain (mentally turn the picture clockwise 1 quarter rotation). This lends credence to an understanding

34 The Geography of Thought: Asian and Western Minds at Work, Richard E. Nisbett 35 "Democracy Index 2011".Economist Intelligence Unit. 12 that there is a connection between the hemispheres pogroms, the Dreyfus Affair, and perhaps the most of the earth and the hemispheres of the brain. infamous, the Holocaust by Nazi Germany.

Now compare it to the words of a Jewish sage who In the Tanach36 and Nazarean Codicil lived almost a thousand years ago. It is interesting to note that HaShem came from Ibn Ezra to Genesis 1:2 First G-d created the East after Adam ate the fruit of the tree of the one continent, but then split it into seven knowledge of good and evil. continents... Bereshit (Genesis) 3:8 And they heard the A thousand years ago, Ibn Ezra knew that the voice of the Lord God going in the garden continents were merged, and that there were seven to the direction of the sun (East), and the continents. This was written long before America, man and his wife hid from before the Lord Australia, or Antarctica were discovered. God in the midst of the trees of the garden.

Anti-Semitism When Adam sinned he crashed the world. However, the greatest fall happened on the left Anti-Semitism is well known in the West and side, the western side. From this we learn that the nearly unknown in the East. Why? We know that Western hemisphere had fallen and Adam could the origin of anti-Semitism is found in the Torah. only hear from the East. Only the right side of his brain could hear. The left side had fallen because Bereshit (Genesis) 27:41 And Esau hated of his sin. Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his Additionally, when we follow the Jews as they heart, The days of mourning for my father were taken into exile, we find that they invariably are at hand; then will I slay my brother migrated to the west whenever they had the Jacob. chance.

Midrash Rabbah - Genesis LXVII:8 AND When we follow the disciples of the Master of ESAU HATED JACOB (XXVII, 41). R. Nazareth, we see that they, too, went to the west to Leazar b. R. Jose said: He was filled with make disciples. The most famous traveler in the hatred, hostility, and vindictiveness toward Nazarean Codicil37 was Hakham Shaul (the him [Jacob], so that to this very day one apostle Paul). The following maps gives some of speaks of the senatores [enemies] of Rome.’ the detail of his travels:

The hatred of Esau is the hatred of Rome, and Rome represents the Western world.

Western Anti-Semitism may be manifested in many ways, ranging from individual expressions of hatred and discrimination against individual Jews to organized violent attacks by mobs, by state police, or military attacks on entire Jewish communities. Extreme instances of persecution, in the West, include the First Crusade of 1096, the expulsion from England in 1290, the Spanish Inquisition, the expulsion from Spain in 1492, the 36 An acronym for Torah, Neviim, and Ketuvim, the so expulsion from Portugal in 1497, various called Old Testament. 37 The so-called New Testament. 13 It is instructive to note that Hakham Shaul and all en masse to the East. Neither do we see Jews of the Jews of the Nazarean Codicil went to the talmudizing the Gentiles in the East. West in their efforts to Talmudise the Gentiles. They never went to the East. Clearly HaShem needed to fix up the West and not the East. Clearly the West needed the benefit of Throughout history, Jews have been virtually having the Jews among them. unknown to have settled in the East. About the furthest East that Jews have settled was in North and South Babylon. Thus while we have millions of Jews living in America and Europe, we have almost no Scholarly research (See Appendix A) suggests that Jews living in China, Japan, and southEast Asia. folks in North America, Europe, Australia, and in Israel, are very individualistic. In addition, the This has begun to change in the last few hundred same research has shown that folks in South years. Small groups of Jews have begun to settle America, Africa, and the East are very in the East. collectivistic. If we plot these on a map we would see something resembling the following table: When the Jews went into exile in 70CE, they went to the West. No where do we see Jews migrating

North America Europe Asia Individualistic Individualistic Collectivistic Israel Individualistic within community South America Africa Australia Collectivistic Collectivistic Individualistic

What are we to make of this situation? history? To understand this we will need to understand right-handedness. One answer that seems very satisfying is to note that the right brain controls the left side of the Right-handedness is the form of handedness in body while the left brain controls the right side of which one has greater coordination and dexterity the body. Thus we see that as we descend in the in the right hand than in the left hand. Right- body we also switch sides. This same phenomenon handed individuals will perform everyday tasks seems to exist in the world. If the north is such as writing, cooking and carrying out one’s individualistic, then the south is collectivistic and personal hygiene with the right hand. The right vice versa. hand is therefore the dominant hand. A variety of studies suggest that 70-90% of world population Thus we see the left brain and right brain are right-handed rather than left-handed or any correspond to the Western and Eastern other form of handedness. 38 hemispheres in the north; while the reverse is true in the south. There is no prevailing theory that explains why right-handedness is so much more common than Why have the Occidental nations (the West) left-handedness.39 I would, therefore, like to dominated the sciences, military might, and other significant achievements throughout most of 38 Psychology for A-level second edition, page 309. 39 Ibid. 14 propose a theory: The Occidental nations are left- It is our duty to study the origins and birth brained and therefore they are ‘right handed’. This of the human, the form and structure of his right handedness is a form of dominance. Because physical frame, how the various body parts the Occidental peoples are left-brained they tend are connected and function together, the to dominate (the right hand) certain sectors of purpose of each individual part and the achievement. need for it to take its present form. Next we should study man’s advantages, his various Thus we see that the world generally follows the temperaments, the faculties of his soul, the pattern set forth in the brains of most individuals. light of his intellect, his qualities -- those that are essential and those that are The Brain accidental; his desires, and the ultimate purpose of his being. When we have arrived In various Jewish texts man is referred to as an at an understanding of the matters noted in olam katan, a small universe. regard to man, much of the mystery of this universe will become clear to us, since the “ Man is a microcosm of Torah”. Just as “G-d one resembles the other... as Job said (Job looked into the Torah and accordingly created the 19:26): “From my flesh I see God.” macrocosmic world,” so too with regard to man, who is called “a small world“.40 Our brain and the physiological manner in which it processes thought are also Without the concept of man as a microcosm, 41 a microcosm of the Divine. Just as much knowledge will be hard to put in a context. the Sefirot have a three part The relationship of the peoples of the world to the structure, so too does the human anatomy of the brain is one such area of brain have a three part structure. knowledge. The following graphic depicts this three part structure of the Sephirot: Man is made in the image of HaShem. This means that even the details of our anatomy mirror that of The brain contains three large parts: The the Creator. right brain, the left brain and mid-brain. This is how I shall refer to these parts throughout this Bereshit (Genesis) 1:26-27 And God said, paper. Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over Scientifically, they are called: the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the Right brain: The right earth, and over every creeping thing that hemisphere of the Cerebrum. creepeth upon the earth. 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God Left brain: The left hemisphere created he him; male and female created he of the Cerebrum. them. Mid-brain: The medulla oblongata and the According to Hakham Bachya,42 our primary duty Cerebellum. is to study that which is closest to us: The human being. Scientists have determined that each hemisphere of the brain has different ‘thought’ functions.

40 Tanchuma, beginning of Parshat Pekudei, and Tikkunei Just as a brain has two hemispheres, the right and Zohar, Tikkun 69, p. 100b, et al. 41 Shomer Emunim HaKadmon, argument 1, sec. 27 the left, so too there were two tablets. Just as man 42 Chapter 5 contemplates only Torah ideas and ideals, so too 15 the Ark contained the essence of Torah. Just as the brain needs to have absolutes and must know brain is triply encased in a skull with two exacts. membranes, the luchot were also encased in three boxes. Finally, the Oriental and the Occidental The right brain needs to be joyful and elevated to people both rest on the earth which is encased in a draw the Light of Chakmah. membrane of water above and a membrane of water below. Clearly there is a relationship In Eastern philosophy and life there is no question between the left and right brain, the Oriental and about the reality of imagery and imagination. the Occidental, and the luchot in the ark. Some of those cultures, most notably having a Additionally, as Torah is wisdom and is stored in great affinity for the imaginal, are the Chinese, the ark, so, too, does wisdom come from the brain Tibetan, and Islamic. of man. As a thought develops it is first received in the A person’s two principle organs are his brain and right brain as an intuitive flash subjectively bound his heart. The Maharal, commenting on the up in itself with such unification that it cannot yet Mishna in Avot, “May it be Your will that the Beit be expressed. The illumination is then transferred HaMikdash be rebuilt speedily in our days, and via a set of nerves (the mid-brain) to the left-brain make our portion in Your Torah”, explains that where the singular idea is broken down into its there is a reference here to these two organs. distinct points and objectively analyzed and then Divine service is the heart, while Torah [the communicated. The final product, the actualized Tablets of the Covenant] is the brain. idea, is the child. This relationship, which replicates itself throughout creation, has an echo in How does one serve HaShem with his brain? By the philosophical construct of thesis, antitheses, studying Torah. The brain is man’s most important and synthesis. organ, his intellect. The Orient correspond to the right hemisphere of The left and right hemispheres of the Cerebrum the brain and the right sefirah of Chachmah. are the largest part of the human brain. They are associated with higher brain functions such as Sod interpretation of the Torah is associated with thought and action. Let’s look at the parts of the the right brain. Sod deals with the realties of inner brain in greater detail. space, the hidden domains of the unconscious, and through them, the higher dimensions which we Right Brain call, the spiritual.

The right hemisphere, of the brain,43 is intuitive, Left Brain unifying, subjective, and holistic. Those with moderate to strong right-brain strengths will The left hemisphere, of the brain,44 is analytical, choose to draw, act, or create. Those with the left- dualistic, objective, and disparate. It is the side brain preference will write or speak. that develops abstract conception of the right brain, giving it breadth and depth. When we use The right brain is the primordial point of creation the left-brain, we don’t see things holistically; We from which all knowable reality originates. understand them, we see their parts, their relationships and contexts. The right brain handles ambiguity well, often treating it as a paradox, works with probabilities, The left brain is associated with the power of works with estimates or degrees where the left conceptual analysis and reasoning, both inductive

43 The right brain. 44 The left brain. 16 and deductive. It has the ability to explain and The majority of people are right handed, meaning elucidate concepts both to oneself and others. The that the right side of their body is strong and left systematic, scientific approach to exploring and side of their body is weak. If we say the brain is understanding the world around us is linked with controlling the body, that would mean that right the left brain. Binah is the sphere of left-brain side of the majority of people which deals with thinking, dualities, relationships, connections, faith, is weak. histories, cause-and-effect, rules, logical systems, and nit-picking, all the things controlled by your This suggests that the occidental people are left left-brain. brained and therefore it is the right hand that is stronger. This suggests that the occendental people Left brain thinking is characterized by careful, will always be stronger than the oriental people. accurate observation of details followed by the application of acute inferential reasoning to the For many centuries and probably in some resulting data in order to generate new knowledge countries to this day, if a child is naturally left and deeper understanding of interrelationships, handed they are made use their right hand, left causes and effects and so on. Thus the left brain handed people are considered weird. But but the sefirah of binah is defined in the Talmud as majority of the world leaders and also stalin and “understanding one thing from another thing”.45 hitler were left handed. In US, 5 out of 7 presidents are also lefties.46 Worry, stress, and depression come from an overload of the left brain. Writing in Scientific American, McManus states that: Studies in the U.K., U.S. and Australia have The Occident correspond to the left hemisphere of revealed that left-handed people differ from right- the brain and the left sefirah of Binah. handers by only one IQ point, which is not noteworthy ... Left-handers’ brains are structured Pshat interpretation of the Torah is associated differently from right-handers’ in ways that can with the right brain. Pshat deals with the realities allow them to process language, spatial relations of the outer world around us. and emotions in more diverse and potentially creative ways. Also, a slightly larger number of Mid-brain left-handers than right-handers are especially gifted in music and math. A study of musicians in The mid-brain is important for voluntary motor professional orchestras found a significantly function, vision, hearing, eye and body movement. greater proportion of talented left-handers, even Thus the midbrain mediates the thoughts of the among those who played instruments that seem left and right hemispheres and converts them into designed for right-handers, such as violins. action. Similarly, studies of adolescents who took tests to assess mathematical giftedness found many more The mid-brain conveys intelligence that is left-handers in the population inaccessible until it is reflected from the left brain to the body. right-to-left alphabets, such as the Arabic and Hebrew, are generally considered easier to write Jerusalem, or Israel, corresponds to the midbrain with the left hand in general. and the center sefirah of Daat which mediates between the two sides. Lefties Make Better Artists

Left and Right Handed Southpaws have been bragging about their creative clout for years. But is it true -- does being 46 Right-Hand, Left-Hand, Chris McManus of University 45 Chagigah 14a, Sanhedrin 93b, Rashi on Exodus 31:3 College London 17 left-handed mean you’re also more likely to be not mentioned, in this case the scroll of the artistic or innovative? Law which was deposited in the ark. You have accounted for the length of the ark, According to research published in the American now account for its breadth. How much of Journal of Psychology, there is some evidence that the [breadth of the] ark do the tables take left-handed people have the upper hand in at least up? Six handbreadths. Three therefore are one creative facet -- they’re better at divergent left. Take away one, half for [the thickness thinking, a method of idea generation that explores of] each side, and two are left, so as to many possible solutions. allow the scroll to be put in and taken out without squeezing. This is the opinion of R. In the Torah Meir. R. Judah says that the cubit of the ark had only five handbreadths . The tables In the Ark were six handbreadths in length, six in breadth and three in thickness, and were The contents of the Ark has been debated through deposited lengthwise in the ark. How much the centuries. Chazal, our Sages, tell us that the did they take up of the ark? Twelve first set of luchot (tablets) containing the Ten handbreadths. There was thus left half a Commandments, which were broken by Moses,47 handbreadth, a finger’s breadth51 for each and the second set of luchot, which remained side. You have accounted for the length of intact, were contained in the Ark: the ark, now go and account for its breadth. How much of the [breadth of the] ark was Bava Batra 14b An objection was brought taken up by the tablets? Six handbreadths. [against the statement regarding the size of There were thus left a handbreadth and a a scroll from the following]: The ark which half. Take away from them half a Moses made was two cubits and a half in handbreadth, a finger’s breadth for each length, a cubit and a half in breadth, and a side, and there will be left a handbreadth. cubit and a half in height, the cubit being six Here were deposited the columns52 handbreadths. The tablets were six mentioned in the verse, King Solomon made handbreadths in length, six in breadth and himself a palanquin of the wood of Lebanon, three in thickness. They were placed he made the pillars thereof of silver, the lengthwise in the ark.48 Now how much of bottom there of gold, the seat of purple, the length of the ark was taken up by the etc.53 At the side of the ark was placed the tablets? Twelve handbreadths. Three coffer in which the Philistines sent a present therefore were left. Take away one to the God of Israel, as it says, And put the handbreadth, a half for each side of the jewels of gold which ye return him for a ark,49 and there were left two handbreadths, guilt offering in a coffer by the side thereof, and in these the scroll of the Law was and send it away that it may go,54 and on deposited. [That a scroll was in the ark we this was placed the scroll of the Law, as it know because] it says, There was nothing in says, Take this book of the law, and put it by the ark save the two tables of stone which the side of the ark of the covenant of the Moses put there.50 Now in the words Lord;55 It was placed by the side of the ark ‘nothing’ and ‘save’ we have a limitation and not in it. What then do I make of the following a limitation, and the purpose of a limitation following a limitation is to intimate the presence of something which is 51 One handbreadth = four finger-breadths. 52 Two silver sticks like the sticks of a scroll placed on each 47 Shemot (Exodus) 32:19. side of the tables. 48 I.e., one next to the other along the length of the ark. 53 Song of Songs 3:9-10. 49 Viz., for the thickness. 54 I Shmuel (Samuel) 6:8. 50 I Melachim (Kings) 8:9. 55 Devarim (Deuteronomy) 31:26. 18 words, There was nought in the ark save?56 the tables and the fragments of the tables This intimates that the fragments of the were deposited in the ark. And, what does R. tables57 were [also] deposited in the ark. Judah make of these words? — He requires Now if we assume that the circumference of them for the lesson enunciated by R. the scroll was six handbreadths, — let us Johanan, who ‘said in the name of R. see: a circumference of three handbreadths Simeon b. Yohai: This teaches us that the means a width of one.58 Since then the scroll Name [of four letters] and all the subsidiary closed in the middle, the space between the names [of God] were deposited in the ark. two cylinders must have been over and And does not R. Meir also require the verse above the two handbreadths. How did this for this lesson? — Certainly he does. get in to the two handbreadths?59 — The Whence then does he learn that the scroll read in the Temple Court60 was rolled fragments of the first tables were deposited round one cylinder. Even so, how could two in the ark? He learns it from the exposition handbreadths get into exactly two? R. Ashi reported [also] by R. Joseph. For R. Joseph replied: The scroll was rolled together up to learned: Which thou brakest and thou shalt a certain point [and placed in the ark], and put them:64 [the juxtaposition of these then the remainder was rolled up on top. words] teaches us that both the tablets and the fragments of the tablets were deposited If we accept R. Judah’s theory, where was in the ark. And what does R. Judah make of the scroll placed before the coffer came? — this verse? — He requires it for the lesson A ledge projected from the ark, and on this enunciated by Resh Lakish, who said: the scroll was placed. What does R. Meir Which thou brakest: God said to Moses, make of the words, At the side of the ark? — Thou hast done well to break.65 This is to indicate that the scroll is to be placed at the side of the tables and not According to one opinion in the Talmud, both sets between them; but even so, it was in the ark, of luchot were together in the Ark; according to only at the side. another, there were two Arks, and each contained one set of luchot.66 According to R. Meir, where were the [silver] sticks placed?61 — Outside. And The Torah [i.e., the Tablets of the Covenant] whence does R. Meir learn that the alludes to the brain within [the head].67 What is fragments of the [first] tables were very interesting is how the luchot are commonly deposited in the ark?62 — From the same depicted. Note the similarity between the luchot source as R. Huna, who said: What is the and the brain in the following picture. meaning of the verse, Which is called by the Name, even the name of the Lord of Hosts that sitteth upon the Cherubim?63 [The repetition of the word ‘name’] teaches that

56 I.e., the double limitation. 57 The first tables which Moses broke. 58 And therefore the scroll must have been two handbreadths wide. 59 If we assume with R. Meir that there was a scroll in the 64 Devarim (Deuteronomy) 10:2. ark. 65 Although I did not tell thee. The words ‘which thou 60 On Tabernacles, in accordance with Deut. 31:9-13. brakest’ can be utilized for this lesson because they are 61 Since there was no room for them in the ark alongside the strictly speaking superfluous. Scroll at the base of the tables. 66 Berachot 8b 62 Seeing that the verse on which R. Judah bases this is 67 Arizal - From Parashat Terumah in the writings of needed by him for another lesson. the Ari of Safed- translated from Sefer HaLikutim and 63 II Shmuel (Samuel) 6:2. Likutei Torah by Rabbi Moshe Wisnefsky. 19 Chakmah (wisdom) and the Binah The luchot were composed of two sets of sapphire (understanding), as contained in the luchot, into tablets. On the first tablet were inscribed the five the required actions. words for the first five commandments. These five commandments taught us the requirement to love Just as our right brain initially receives the HaShem. There were precious few details to tell Chakmah (wisdom) from HaShem as an us how to love HaShem, but they contained the inspiration, so too does the first tablet give us the wisdom (Chakmah) to clearly see that we were Chakmah (wisdom) of HaShem. The Chakmah is required to love HaShem. Here are the first five then conveyed to the left brain which translates the commandments contained on the first sapphire Chakmah into Binah (understanding). After we tablet: have the Binah (understanding), we pass the knowledge to the mid-brain which connects (Daat) 1. Belief in HaShem. the Binah (understanding) with the required 2. Prohibition of improper worship. actions for the body to perform. 3. Prohibition of oaths. 4. Observance of Shabbat and the festivals. In the Lectionary 5. Honor for parents. Because the brain is represented by the luchot,69 it The second tablet contained the five words for the follows that the two triennial torah cycles that second set of five commandments, which taught make up the septennial cycle are also alluded to by us to love our neighbor. Again, there were the brain’s hemispheres. These two cycles are precious few details as to how we were to love our “mirror” images of each other. Both of these neighbor. cycles begin on a Rosh HaShana, literally head of the year.70 Thus the “head” of the year is related to What we received with the second set of tablets the head with it’s brain. was the understanding (Binah) that the love of HaShem was incomplete without the love of our When we look at a Sephardi Torah scroll we can neighbor. In other words, loving our neighbor was see that its shape is also the shape of the depicted loving HaShem. Here are the second set of five luchot and of the brain. Like the commandments contained on the second sapphire brain, the Torah scroll is made from tablet: organic matter (cow, sheep, or deer skin), and the words are written with 6. Prohibition against killing. an organic ink. 7. Prohibition against sexual immorality. 8. Prohibition of kidnapping (theft). Further, the Torah scroll is kept in the Heichal ( in the Esnoga72 which is like a skull, just as 71(היכל Prohibition of harming a person through .9 speech. the ark in the Temple is the “skull” for the luchot. 10. Prohibition of coveting The side picture shows a typical Heichal in the Esnoga. What is missing from tablet number one (Chakmah) and tablet number two (Binah) are the One might reasonably ask a question at this point: details as to how we are to love HaShem and our Where is the mid-brain in this example? In other neighbor. That is where our Hakhamim68 come in. words, I can see, in the Torah scroll, the Our Hakhamim are the repositories of the Oral 69 Apples from the Orchard, Parashat Terumah, page 180. Torah (Daat). The Oral Torah provides the details 70 Rosh HaShana 2a as to how we are to love HaShem and our neighbor. This daat, this knowledge, translates the 71 This is what Sephardim call the place where the Torah scrolls are kept. In Ashkenazim synagogues this storage 68 Literally ‘wise men’. This is how the Sephardic Jews call place is called the Aron, the ark. their Rabbis. 72 Esnoga is how Sephardi Jews call their synagogue. 20 resemblance to the luchot and to the and Hannah were visited; on New Year brain, but where is the resemblance Joseph went forth from prison; on New Year to the mid-brain? the bondage of our ancestors ceased in Egypt; and in Nisan they will be redeemed To answer this question we must go in time to come. back and ask what is the normal function of the mid-brain? We said earlier that the From this dispute we learn that in some way the function of the mid-brain was to communicate the world was created in Nisan and in some way the brain’s thoughts into bodily action. This Torah world was created in Tishri. How can both function is accomplished by the Oral Torah, the opinions be right? The Oral Torah .(תורה שבעל פה) Torah Shebaal Peh is contained within our Hakhamim, our Rabbis. It Chazal teach that in Nisan the world was is our Hakhamim who communicate the Oral conceived and in Tishri the world was created. Torah to us and advise us as to how it is applied to particular situation. It is well known that the flash of inspiration is related to Chakmah and the fleshing out of that The function of the mid-brain, in its resemblance idea is related to Binah. When the idea reaches the to the luchot in the Temple, is similar to what we lower world it is manifested as Daat. When we have for the Torah scrolls. With the luchot, the have that flash of inspiration, we ‘know‘ that it is “mid-brain” function is still the Oral Torah, but the right answer with all of its component parts. instead of being contained in our Hakhamim, it is contained within the Kohen Gadole, the High An example from the septennial cycle readings Priest, who was the ultimate Hakham. should help to clarify this idea. Take a look at the following table to see this example: SHMITATC. The two triennial cycles, of three and half years, resemble the Sephirot of Chakmah and Binah On Tebet 18, 5771, which is December 25, 2010, because they are exactly six months apart. The we read Vayikra (Leviticus) 26:3 – 26:26. This first triennial cycle begins in Tishri and the second portion details the blessing for loving HaShem by triennial cycle begins in Nisan. Thus a septennial obeying His commandments and studying His cycle incorporates two triennial cycles which are Torah. It also contains the punishments for those offset by six months. who do not obey the commandments and do not study His Torah. HaShem, as it were, has placed The Talmud records a dispute between Rabbi us at a turning point and told us what would Eliezer and Rabbi Joshua: happen based on our actions.

Rosh HaShana 10b R. Eliezer says: In This turning point in our lives is read at the Tishri the world was created; in Tishri the tekufah (winter solstice), a turning point of the Patriarchs9 were born; in Tishri the year. Patriarchs died; on Passover Isaac was born; on New Year Sarah, Rachel and With this observation we begin to get a glimmer Hannah were visited; on New Year Joseph that there is some connection between time and went forth from prison; on New Year the the Torah portion that is read on Shabbat. bondage of our ancestors in Egypt ceased; However, when we jump forward three and a half in Nisan they were redeemed and in Nisan years to Sivan 16, 5774 (June 14, 2014), where we they will be redeemed in the time to come. read Vayikra (Leviticus) 26:3 – 26:26 a second R. Joshua says: In Nisan the world was time, we see that it also falls on the Shabbat created; in Nisan the Patriarchs were born; closest to the tekufah of Tammuz (the summer in Nisan the Patriarchs died; on Passover solstice). With this Binah (understanding) we Isaac was born; on New Year Sarah, Rachel begin to understand that we now have two 21 witnesses which declare that these are two turning Mandaic alphabet - closely related to Syriac, used points in time that represent the two choices for the Mandaic language presented to us in the Torah portion. Aramaic alphabet - ancient, closely related to Hebrew and Phoenician Either we obey HaShem and study His Torah, thus Phoenician - ancient, closely related to Hebrew receiving more light (wisdom), or we rebel against and Imperial Aramaic HaShem and His Torah and receive diminishing Lydian - ancient; some texts are left-to-right light. These two choices are reflected in the Cypriot syllabary tekufot (turning points of the year). At the tekufah Kharosthi - an ancient script of India of Tebet (the winter solstice) we begin to see the Old South Arabian days becoming longer, the light is increasing. At Avestan the tekufah of Tammuz (the summer solstice) we Pahlavi scripts begin to see the days becoming shorter, the light is Old Turkic decreasing. Etruscan language - extinct language Umbrian language - an extinct Italic language With both triennial cycles combined into a formerly spoken by the Umbri in the ancient septennial cycle, we now have the Chakmah Italian region of Umbria. (wisdom) and the Binah (understanding) to enable us to use the Daat (Oral Torah) to move our bodies The following languages are written left to right: in the way we should turn. Devanagari – used in India and Nepal. The two triennial cycles resemble Chakmah and Abugidas – Used in Tibet, Thailand, Bangladesh, Binah. Their manifestation in the world is through and Cambodia. the Oral Torah, through Daat. It is our Hakhamim China who teach us how the weekly Torah reading is Japan expressed as prophecy for that week. Arabic Libya In The Alphabets Egypt Algeria Alphabets with vowels tend to be written from left Morocco to right. Those, like Hebrew, that contain only Middle East consonants but not vowels, tend to be written from Afghanistan right to left. Pakistan Iran Latin alphabets are used throughout the western hemisphere and Australia except for North Africa. When we read something written in an alphabet, like English, that contains vowels, each word is The following languages are written right to left: more or less intelligible on its own. So we can use the linear, sequential left brain, which controls Arabic script - used for Arabic, Persian, Urdu and rightward movement, which is why English is many other languages. written from left to right. Hebrew - used for Hebrew, Yiddish and some other Jewish languages. Not so when we read a text written in an alphabet Syriac - used for varieties of the Syriac language. without vowels. Imagine English without vowels. Thaana - used for Dhivehi. The letters ht, for example, might mean any of hot, N'Ko script - used for several languages of West hat, hit, hut, heat or hate. How do you tell which? Africa. Only by understanding the context, and perhaps Samaritan alphabet - closely related to Hebrew, even how the sentence ends. For that you need to used for the Samaritans' writings use the integrative and holistic right brain, which 22 controls leftward motion. That is why vowel-less Based on this understanding, many question and alphabets tend to be written from right to left. anomalies can now be elegantly resolved. For example, The Oriental account of the history of Conclusion the world, teaches that the world is billions of years old and will continue for billions of years to There is much to be learned from diligent Torah come. There is no concept of an accelerating study. It is the Torah and our Hakhamim who messianic age, i.e., necessary redemption and total teach us how to relate to Orientals, to Occidentals, tikkun of all creation, the great Shabbat. They are and to Jews. Our Hakhamim teach us with the correct and true to their collective nature because, septennial lectionary, the sefirot, and the Oral law. that is how time is experienced in the dimension of Akudim,73 time is virtually timeless! Another The world started with Adam walking with example is the obsession the Western world has, HaShem in Gan Eden. Since we know that the end via Christianity, with corporealizing divinity in the will be like the beginning, it follows that form of a man. They are also correct and true to eventually all three groups of people, the their individualistic nature. The left-brain is Orientals, the Occidentals, and the Jews will dualistic by nature and needs to communicate in merge into a single group in the end. We can concrete and corporeal expresssions. witness the beginnings of this merger in our own lifetimes. Appendix A74

When Adam fell, the greatest damage was to the High Individualism Countries left side of the sefirot and to the Occidental world. Therefore the major fix involved sending His Countries with high individualism scores typically chosen people to the Occidental world to effect the bestow promotions based on individual initiative. repair. Unfortunately, the Occidental world was Below is a list of countries with the highest composed of Esau and Rome who hate Yaaqov individualism scores. (Jews).  United States ... 91 (111.6% higher than world average) We see that in the last one hundred years that Occidentals are increasingly going to live in the  Australia ... 90 (109.3% higher) Orient. At the same time we are seeing Orientals  United Kingdom ... 89 (107% higher) coming in increasing numbers to live in the  Canada, Netherlands, New Zealand ... 80 Occident. Jews are already well dispersed in the (86% higher) Occident, but they are beginning to have communities in the Orient. Further inter-marriage  Italy ... 75 (74.4% higher) and assimilation is decimating Jewish  Belgium, Denmark ... 74 (72.1% higher) communities. Jews were supposed to be a  Sweden ... 73 (69.8% higher) ‘separate people’. Inter-marriage has begun to seal this merger of the Orientals, the Occidentals, and  France ... 72 (67.4% higher) the Jews.  Ireland, Switzerland ... 68 (58.1% higher) This global merger is clearly part of HaShem’s  Germany, Norway ... 67 (55.8% higher) plan to accomplish tikkun olam, the repairing of  South Africa ... 65 (51.2% higher) His world. In the end, HaShem is sifting mankind  Finland ... 64.5 (50% higher) and bring the scattered sparks back together. These are end time events. This is HaShem’s plan.  Poland ... 61 (41.9% higher) It is moving inexorably towards His conclusion. 73 The World of “Binding” 74 © Geert Hofstede - all rights reserved 23  Israel ... 54 (25.6% higher)  East Africa** … 27 (37.2% lower)  India ... 49 (14% higher).  Portugal … 26 (39.5% lower) Low Individualism Countries  Hong Kong, Malaysia … 25 (41.9% lower). Cultures with low individualism scores focus more *Egypt, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Saudi on collective efforts with promotion based on Arabia, United Arab Emirates seniority. The following shows the countries with the lowest individualism scores from Hofstede’s **Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia study. Individualistic

 Guatemala ... 6 points (86% lower than Scores (Lower score world average) Country indicates  Ecuador ... 7 (83.7% lower) Collectivistic)  Argentina, Panama, Peru ... 11 (74.4% Arab World ** 38 lower) Argentina 46  Venezuela ... 12 (72.1% lower) Australia 90  Colombia ... 13 (69.8% lower) Austria 55  Indonesia ... 14 (67.4% lower) Austria 55 Bangladesh * 20  Costa Rica, Pakistan ... 15 (65.1% lower) Belgium 75  Taiwan ... 17 (60.5% lower) Brazil 38  South Korea ... 18 (58.1% lower) Bulgaria * 30  El Salvador ... 19 (55.8% lower) Canada 80  China ... 20 (53.5% lower) Chile 23  Singapore, Thailand ... 21 (51.2% lower) China * 20  West Africa* ... 21 (51.2% lower). Colombia 13 *Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone Costa Rica 15 Other Country Individualism Scores Czech Republic * 58 Denmark 74 Shown below are the individualism scores for other countries in Professor Hofstede’s study. East Africa ** 27 Ecuador 8  Japan … 46 points (7% higher than the world average) El Salvador 19  Iran, Spain … 41 (4.7% lower) Estonia * 60 Finland 63  Brazil, Jamaica … 38 (11.6% lower) France 71  Arab World* … 38 (11.6% lower) Germany 67  Turkey … 37 (14% lower) Greece 35  Uruguay … 36 (16.3% lower) Guatemala 6  Greece … 35 (18.6% lower) Hong Kong 25  Philippines … 33 (13.3% lower) Hungary * 80  Mexico … 30 (31.2% lower) India 48 24 Indonesia 14 Venezuela 12 Iran 41 Vietnam * 20 Ireland 70 West Africa 20 Israel 54 Italy 76 * Estimated values ** Regional estimated values: Jamaica 39 ‘ Arab = Egypt, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Japan 46 World’ Libya, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates Luxembourg * 60 ‘ East = Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Malaysia 26 Africa’ Zambia Malta * 59 ‘ West = Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone Africa’ Mexico 30 Morocco * 46 © Geert Hofstede - all rights reserved Netherlands 80 New Zealand 79 * * *

Norway 69 Bibliography: Pakistan 14 Panama 11 Sefer Yitzirah, The Book of Creation, by Rabbi Peru 16 Aryeh Kaplan. Philippines 32 Kabbalah Concepts, by Rabbi Raphael Afialo. Poland * 60 Portugal 27 Body, Mind, and Soul, Kabbalah on Human Physiology, Disease, and Healing, By Rabbi Romania * 30 Yitzchak Ginsburgh. Russia * 39 Singapore 20 The geography of thought: how Asians and Slovakia * 52 Westerners think differently-- and why, By Richard E. Nisbett. South Africa 65 South Korea 18 How To Live & Do Business In China, by Ernie Spain 51 Tadla. Surinam * 47 Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Sweden 71 of the United States of America on December 19, Switzerland 68 research team from the Life Sciences College at Taiwan 17 China Science and Technology University - led by Thailand 20 Professor Chen Lin. Trinidad * 16 Nisbett, R.E. (2003). The geography of thought: Turkey 37 How Asians and Westerners think differently...and United Kingdom 89 why. New York: Free Press. An accessible United States 91 overview of the relationship between culture and cognition. Uruguay 36

25 * * * The seven days of creation are related to the seven years of the Shmita cycle.

Notes: * * * The seven days of creation are divided as follows: This study was written by First day: Light. Fourth day: Sun, Rabbi Dr. Hillel ben David moon, and stars. (Greg Killian). Second day: Separated waters Fifth day: Fish and Comments may be submitted to: above from waters below. birds. Third day: Dry land and plants. Sixth day: Animals and man. Rabbi Dr. Greg Killian Sabbath 4544 Highline Drive SE Olympia, WA 98501 From the above table we can see that the first three days are related to the next three days. These two Internet address: [email protected] sets are connected by the day of connection, the Web page: http://www.betemunah.org/ Sabbath. This reflects the same general pattern as the brain, the Eastern hemisphere, Western (360) 918-2905 hemisphere, and Israel connections. Return to The WATCHMAN home page Send comments to Greg Killian at his email address: [email protected]

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